Column was wrong

Sunday

Dec 28, 2008 at 8:00 AM

Do you believe in God or a supreme being? I believe that a large majority of people in America would answer yes.On Nov. 28, Editorial Page Editor Michael Gorman expressed his opinions on religion, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s.I respectfully disagree with his opinions and his logic to his interpretation of God-loving people’s beliefs toward the Christmas season and the holiday seasons. The holiday season is a tradition in our country that is not going to disappear because of a relatively small group of atheists and separatists, especially at the local newspaper.Gorman lists his research to define the holiday season as proof of his opinions.Let’s look at what he calls the rantings about Christmas and try to establish some reality to his way of thinking.First off, he failed to explain BC and AD. BC is the time before Christ and AD refers to the time period after the death of Christ. This has been listed that way for centuries even as far back in the history books as the fall of the Roman Empire. So much for this new concept.Next is the issue of requiring employees to say “happy holidays” and banning the use of the traditional “merry Christmas.” Since when does an employer have the right to override the Constitution and our First Amendment right to freedom of speech.I have done extensive research and spoken with numerous store employees and this statement is fact: The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees us the right to freedom of religion, speech and the press. I believe all of these corporations are attempting to deny their employees those rights by threatening their livelihoods if they simply say “merry Christmas.” How unreal.Gorman stated that his copy of Webster’s New World Dictionary lists as the first definition of holiday “holy day.” How does this in any way support the atheists’ attempt to remove the religious significance of Christmas? If the mere definition of holiday is holy day, doesn’t that in itself prove it to be a religious celebration?Furthermore, Gorman states that he wants to simplify (his word) the wordy happy Thanksgiving, merry Christmas and happy New Year by simply saying “happy holidays,” claiming this would make the holidays more practical.The problem as I see it is not the fact that Christians want to be left alone, but rather that certain factions are offended by the fact that Christians honor Christmas (Christ mas) as the birth of their holy savior Jesus Christ. This is a holy day.Gorman went on to explain the X in X-mas instead of Christmas. His reasoning is that X is the Greek letter chi, which is the first letter for the word Christ. He also claims it has a longstanding history in the Christian faith.Ask yourself this question: Are you really a Christian if the word Christmas offends you?Gorman, in my opinion, truly has tunnel vision on Christmas and really doesn’t understand that Christian holy days are being eliminated in an effort by atheists to make the G word (God) politically incorrect.In your attack, you said that we should take things for what they are rather than finding offense at every turn. Why can’t he and his friends just leave Christmas as it is and always has been, Christ’s birthday?Like it or not, you can’t change the fact that Jesus is the reason for the season.Let your conscience be your guide.God bless you and merry Christmas.Joe PineroPresident, Citizens forGood GovernmentBourg

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